The 2014 Cadillac CTS Vsport and 2013 Lexus GS350 F Sport. Two $60k sport sedans where the emphasis is more on real driving than pure luxury. The Lexus packs a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that makes 306 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. Whereby the Cadillac pumps out 410 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque from a 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6. At first you may not think the comparison is fair, but considering they cost just about the same, we say “Let the games begin!”

The Lexus IS350 F-Sport has been completely redesigned for 2014. That means new body panels, a new interior, and a V6 engine that pumps out 305 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque. It’s a nice car, it really is, but with a V6 engine note that sounds like a hopped up sewing machine, it’s not really my cup of tea. Matt Farah and the crew from The Smoking Tire recently got hold of a pre-production IS350 F-Sport and put it threw is paces on one of California’s most challenging roads. Check out the video after the jump.

There is no question that the stance of a vehicle can make or break its appearance. A car sitting too high on its suspension can look like an elephant on stilts, where one that sits too low can be undriveable. Some folks love the lowered look so much that they’ve resigned themselves to the fact that when modified, they simply won’t be able to drive their cars to various destinations. Are cars like this for everyone? No… they’re not. That doesn’t mean however we can’t appreciate the way they look. Check out the video after the jump.

In this, the fourth and fifth installment of Car and Driver’s 2013 Lightning Lap, we get to check out cars that range from $120,000 – $239,999 in the LL4 Class, to those costing more than $240,000 in LL5. The competitors are all run at Virginia International Raceway under the same conditions until one winner from each class is proven. This episodes lineup includes the Ferrari 458 Italia, Jaguar XKR-S and the Lexus LFA. These are some stout automobiles no doubt, but how will they hold up under the stresses of the raceway. Click through to find out.

Thumbs Up: Perhaps the best long-distance commuter car on the planet, for now.

Thumbs Down: Not much here for driving enthusiasts.

Buy This Car If: Your idea of an easy commute is 100 miles round-trip.

When it comes to luxury, few manufacturers understand how to coddle buyers in its cars and showrooms quite as well as Lexus. Its build quality is beyond reproach, its cars are ever-increasingly stylish and its dealers treat customers like extended family members; in short, we’d have a hard time naming an automaker that works harder to be atop the luxury pile than Lexus. Read More…

PRO’s: Great brakes, superb interior, handling and a media center that is one of the best in the business.

CON’s: High price, could use a bit more grunt.

FINAL THOUGHT: A fantastic automobile that proves Lexus is committed to building one of the best premium sports sedans money can buy.

If you were to open my garage you’d end up with two old muscle cars, a new pony car and a 20-year old station wagon that I use as a daily driver. None of these machines contain leather interiors, sunroofs, air conditioned seats or navigation, as they were all bought (and built) to serve a specific purpose. I tell you this because all my vehicles are bare bones and no frills, which is somewhat similar to how I live my life.

Thumbs Down: Suspension tuning needs more refinement, could use more power.

Buy This Car If: You want a luxury sedan with performance aspirations that will likely last for decades.

If you’re shopping for a midsize luxury sport sedan, chances are good the Lexus GS 350 isn’t on your short list. While previous generations of the car delivered a reasonable amount of luxury (and a reputation for bulletproof reliability), they failed to deliver anything resembling a true sport sedan’s handling. Even power, while adequate, wasn’t exactly class-leading. Read More…

Even though it’s over 20 years old there is no doubt that the Acura NSX is still one of the worlds premier super cars. When it first hit the streets it was touted as the first true exotic that you could and more importantly would, drive everyday. It had bulletproof reliability, stellar styling and a presence that would make Ferrari’s of the day run for cover. Motor Trend’s Johnny Lieberman recently got a hold of an old NSX as well as a new Lexus LFA to run a very cool old versus new comparison. Click through to check it out.

Buy This Car If: You want luxury and reliability at a reasonable price point

There are things in life that require a bit of experience, or maturity, to appreciate. Caviar is a good example, as is a fine single malt scotch. It isn’t that you can’t develop a liking for either at a younger age, it’s just that you don’t necessarily appreciate them as much as someone who’s been around the block a time or two. Read More…

For the vast majority of us, the Lexus LFA is, was and always will be pure unobtanium. Love it or hate it, the $375,000 supercar is an example of what an automaker can do with a blank sheet of paper, an unlimited budget and an engineering staff that’s unwilling to compromise about any aspect of the program. Maybe because of it’s price or it’s rarity, it’s hard to get worked up about news relating to the LFA. It’s unlikely that Lexus will build a follow-up model, and most of us will never get a turn behind the wheel of one, so what’s the point? Read More…

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